Search

Pestil, also known as fruit leather, has emerged as a promising non‐dairy carrier for probiotics, utilizing apricots and incorporating probiotics into its formulation. This study aimed to develop a healthy snack bar by incorporating three distinct strains of probiotic bacteria, both in free and encapsulated forms, into the recipe of apricot leather. The physicochemical, bioactive, microbiological, and textural attributes of the resulting apricot pestils were evaluated over a 120‐day storage period. Fluctuations in pH (4.74–4.97) were observed during storage, whereas water activity (0.31–0.45) and moisture content (8.05%–13.40%) exhibited a decreasing trend over time. Incorporating free or encapsulated bacteria resulted in a darker surface, attributed to the intermolecular interactions between probiotics and the pestil matrix. The initial total phenolic content was highest and declined significantly during storage (52.13–291.73 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g) (p < 0.05). Viability was found to be higher in the encapsulated forms of bacteria at the conclusion of the storage period. Overall, apricot pestil emerged as a promising matrix for viable probiotics, facilitating their delivery and hosting in both free and encapsulated forms during storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) have attracted considerable attention as one of the most remarkable food and drink pollutants in recent years. Disposable cups, which are widely used as single-use containers, have been suspected as the primary sources of MPs found in cold and hot beverages. In this study, the effect of different exposure times (0, 5, 10 and 20 min) and temperatures (4 °C, 50 °C and 80 °C) on MP release from the single-use cups made of four different materials [polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE) coated paper cups and expanded polystyrene (EPS)] into the water was investigated. The number of MPs ranged from 126 p/L to 1420 p/L, while the highest and lowest counts were observed in the PP (50 °C for 20 min) and PE-coated paper cups (4 °C 0 min), respectively. Washing the cups with ultrapure water prior to use reduced the MP release by 52–65%. SEM images demonstrated the abrasion on the surface of the disposable cups as a result of hot water exposure. Intensities of FTIR absorbance levels at some wavelengths were decreased by the water treatment, which could be evidence of surface abrasion. The annual MP exposure of consumers was calculated as 18,720–73,840 by the consumption of hot and cold beverages in disposable cups. In conclusion, as the level and potential toxicity of MP exposure in humans are not yet fully known, this study sheds light on the number of MPs transferred to cold and hot beverages from single-use disposable cups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arnebia euсhroma, commonly known as "Pink Arnebia," is a plant from the Boraginaceae family found in Western and Central Asia. Traditionally, it has been used to treat respiratory, gastrointestinal, and dermatological ailments. Recent studies have highlighted its pharmacological properties and potential health advantages, resulting in increased interest in this plant. Pharmacognostic investigations have revealed the presence of various beneficial phytochemicals. Phytochemical studies have identified several bioactive compounds in A. euсhroma, such as eugormoside A, eugormoside B, scopoletin, and β-sitosterol, which exhibit diverse biological activities like antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and anti-ulcer effects. The therapeutic potential of these bioactive compounds suggests that A. euсhroma could be beneficial for a wide range of diseases. Pharmacological studies have validated the plant's healing properties, demonstrating its antimicrobial activity against various pathogens. Furthermore, A. euсhroma extracts possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can potentially mitigate oxidative stress and inflammation-related diseases. Other pharmacological actions of A. euсhroma include wound healing, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, and anti-diabetic effects. Overall, A. euсhroma exhibits promise as a medicinal plant with significant health benefits. However, further research is required to identify the active compounds responsible for its pharmacological activity and elucidate their primary mechanisms of action. Additionally, clinical studies are necessary to assess its safety and efficacy when used therapeutically. The primary objective of this review is to showcase the phytochemical composition and traditional ethnopharmacological applications of A. euchroma worldwide. The study examines previous research concerning this plant, laying the foundation for a forward-looking perspective on the potential future of A. euchrom [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Çukurova Journal of Agriculture & Food Sciences is the property of Cukurova University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The purpose of this study was to valorize green pea cooking water (aquafaba) as a foaming agent in foam‐mat drying of tomato. For this aim, density of foam‐mats (green pea aquafaba+tomato puree) changed between 1.06 and 0.45 g/mL depending on the aquafaba concentration. Foam‐mats with 5 mm thickness were dried at 50, 60 and 70°C at 1.3 m/s air velocity. Results: The results showed that the porous structure of foams with lower densities resulted in higher drying rates and moisture diffusivities. Redness (a*) value decreased with increasing aquafaba content (p < 0.05). Total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (CUPRAC, DPPH and FRAP) of the resulting tomato powders were also determined. Moreover, bioaccessibility of phenolics and antioxidant activities were also determined using in vitro digestion. Conclusions: All of the bioactive parameters are positively affected by foam‐mat drying process. Using aquafaba as a foaming agent accelerated the drying period and improved bioactive characteristics of the powders. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, cellulose microfibers (CMFs) isolated from fallen autumn leaves of cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera pissardii nigra), white mulberry (Morus alba) and plane (Platanus orientalis) trees were characterized and used as reinforcement agents in sodium alginate‐based biodegradable films. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) characterization showed that the CMFs were successfully isolated from the leaves with high purity. The extracted CMFs had a particle size ranging from 321.20 nm to 632.26 nm and negative zeta potential values (−27.33 to −21.40). The extraction yield of CMFs ranged from 19.53% to 26.00%. Incorporation of the leaf‐derived CMFs into sodium alginate based films (1%, w:w) increased their tensile strength (from 153.73 to 187.78 MPa) and elongation at break values (from 105.97% to 89.90%) and significantly decreased oxygen (from 121.46 to 75.56 meq kg‐1) and water vapor permeabilities (from 2.36 to 1.60 g mm h−1 m−2 kPa−1)(p < 0.05). Furthermore, the supplementation of CMFs into the biopolymer matrix had no significant effect on the color (L*: 85.35–85.67; a*: −0.75‐0.71; b*: 4.23–4.94) and moisture content (44.64–48.42%) of the film samples, although the thickness increased (40.33–94.66 μm). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that CMFs were homogeneously dispersed in the film matrix. Overall, this study confirms that fallen cherry plum, white mulberry, and plane leaves are valuable sources of CMFs which could be used in the manufacturing of biodegradable nanocomposite films as reinforcement agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medicinal and aromatic plants, which are rich sources of bioactive conpounds, have been used in traditional medicine for ancient times. Epidemiological studies have shown that bioactive compounds of medicinal plants possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiatherosclerotic, antitumor, antimutagenic, anticarcinogenic, antibacterial and antiviral activities. Intake of natural antioxidants derived from medicinal plants into body has been associated with reduced risks of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other diseases. It has also been demonstrated that the fermentation of plants is a versatile way for improvement of their functionality and bioavailability. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of probiotic fermentation and vacuum drying on the bioavailability of peppermint (Mentha piperita) and basil (Ocimum basilicum) exposed to in vitro digestion. Methods: Fresh basil and peppermint were divided to 3 lots, one lot of each plant was vacuum dried at 40 °C for 8 hours to obtain the dried samples while one lot was fermented with probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum for 21 days at room temperature after incorporation with sterile brine (1:20 w:v) containing 5% of NaCl. Thereby, 3 samples were obtained: Fresh peppermint/basil, vacuum dried peppermint/basil and fermented peppermint/basil. During the in vitro digestion comprised from gastric and pancreatic digestion, bioavailability of the samples were investigated by measurement of their total phenolic contents (TPCs), total flavonoid contents (TFCs) and antiradical activity. TPC was determined using Folin-Ciocalteu method while TFC was measured aluminum chloride colorimetric assay. The antiradical activity of the samples was analyzed by determination of the DPPH radical scavenging activity. Results: The initial (undigested) TPC levels of fresh, vacuum dried and fermented mint and basils ranged from 166.24 to 295.08 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g. Drying and fermentation increased TPCs of the plants. Similarly, TFCs and antiradical activities were also increased by these treatments. When considering bioavailability of the bioactive compounds, fermentation process enabled higher recovery levels after in vitro digestion while basil exhibited higher percent recovery than mint. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that vacuum drying and fermentation of basil and mint with probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum provided much stronger antioxidant activity and bioavailability than fresh ones and increased their in vitro bioavailability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) are one of the most important food and environment pollutants arise in recent years. Plastics are commonly used in many places and reduced to micron- and nano-size by physical effects such as sunlight, winds, flows, living organisms, waves, external impact and/or intentionally for industrial purposes. Plastic particles <5 mm in size are named MPs, and these particles, which are found everywhere in the ecosystem, can also enter the human diet by food systems. Studies have clearly shown that packaging materials could be one of the major sources of MPs present in the food and beverages. In this study, the number of MPs released from 5 types of disposable plastic cups (PS, PE coated paper cups, EPS, PP, PET) into water at different temperatures (4 °C, 50 °C, and 80 °C) were analyzed. For this purpose, numbers of MPs at different exposure times (0, 5, 10 or 20 min) were determined. Standard filtration techniques were used to determine the number of MPs released into the plastic cups. The filters were stored in glass petri dishes for characterization of MPs, and the particles were classified according to color and shape characteristics. The chemical and morphological changes caused by different temperatures on the inner surface of plastic cups were determined by ATR-FTIR and SEM. The average number of MPs obtained was 574.33±374.12 particles/L. The highest MP particle was determined in PP cups with 1420 p/L (50 °C 20 min.) while the lowest MP was in PE-coated paper cups with 126 p/L (4 °C, 0 min). SEM images demonstrated the abrasion on the surface of the plastic cups as a result of hot water exposure. Again, FTIR results showed that intensities of absorbance levels at some wavelengths were decreased after the water treatment although the spectra of the plastics did not change. The average MP intake of the consumers was also calculated; for example, the MP exposure during the consumption period was determined as 18720-73840 MPs/year. In conclusion, the result of this study confirmed that disposable plastic cups could be a critical source of MP contamination of the beverages consumed in daily bases, and a necessary attention must be taken into account for their risks to humans and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]